Things were not going too well for AP Leamington in October 1976, but a major and morale boosting surprise was in store. Brakes were knocked out of the FA Cup in a replay at Bromsgrove Rovers which they lost 2-1 in front of a crowd of 826. Brakes created plenty of chances, but then failed to score from them. The defeat meant that Bromsgrove had the attractive third round qualifying match against Nuneaton. ‘Man of the match for Leamington was Micky Boot who was a tireless worker in midfield.’
The next game was an away trip to Dover, the first visit
there with an attendance of 615.
‘Failure to turn a lot od good midfield football into goals brought
defeat for AP Leamington. Dover showed
how it should be done with a goal in each half.
Garratt could not be faulted for the goals and the defence in the main
played soundly, while Micky Boot, Steve Lee and Mick Keeley got through a lot
of good work with little reward.’
But who was that familiar figure in the crowd as an AP
guest? None other than ex-West Ham
striker Harry Redknapp who had just completed a month’s loan with then fourth
division Brentford. Redknapp was living
in Bournemouth. He played in the United
States over the summer and had been invited back. A jubilant Jimmy Knox said: ‘Harry met the
players and proved that he was just the type of player as well as bloke we
need.’
‘After a week of hectic negotiations, Redknapp, who played
alongside World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Geoff Hirst and Martin Peters In the
late sixties, signed on Wednesday. He
makes his debut against Maidstone and brings the number of signings manager
Jimmy Knox has made in the last three weeks to three. Redknapp joins home debutants George Cleary
and Tommy Gorman in a Brakes outfit that is rapidly gaining a new look. Knox was understandably “over the moon”
about the acquisition of Redknapp, who turned down offers from Brighton and
Peterborough, besides Southern Premier side Yeovil, to play for Brakes. “He’s just the bloke wed need. He has plenty of class and experience, and has
every attribute a good winger should have.
He’ll also be a perfect for Cleary,” enthused Knox. The manager also believes that not only will
Redknapp’s reputation swell the Windmill crowd, “but will also show the people
of Leamington that we’re not taking this bottom of the table situation lying
down. It will show them that we’re
prepared to go out and, within reason, sign players of big-name quality if need
be.” The whole episode began some days
ago when chairman Gerry Locke spotted a newspaper article about Redknapp. After initial negotiations last week, Knox
didn’t believe that he had “a cat in hell’s chance” in getting Redknapp’s name
on a contract.’ However, signing for
Brighton or Peterborough would have meant moving home while Yeovil wanted
Redknapp to train with them three nights a week AP agreed that Redknapp could continue
training with Bournemouth and, if necessary, would travel to Leamington once a
week for an AP training session. There
was no signing on fee. Knox explained
that with the increase in gates there was some spare cash and the club had authorised
him to go out and spend it.
